slow to germinate, scarification and stratification help, freeze and thaw both wet and dry. Don’t keep wet, but alternate wet and dry with changing temperature. No luck? Save pot and try again next year.

rot easily, right after germination: not too wet, dry air and stronger light.

soak in warm (approx. 80F, 27C) distilled water about 12 hours before planting the seeds; do not allow to dry between soaking and planting.

needs soil with basic pH when first transplanted (add limestone), especially in areas with acidic water.Hardiness of strong seedlings or adults in good health and culture:

no frost at all, fatal, keep above approx. 40F (approx. 5C)

occasional light frost, above 28F (-2C)

frequent moderate frost, above approx. 20F (-7C)

very frost hardy, above approx. 10F (-12C)

often snow-covered, safe easily to -10F (-23C)

Cultivation codes for mesembs and some other succulents: (germination temps) A-robust shrubby spring growers that grow rapidly and flower in the spring. When the heat of summer comes they go dormant. Some will grow only as annuals and die in the summer heat (50-65F, 10-18C) B-spring growers that stay compact, actively grow and flower in the spring, needing deep soaking waterings. They can be cool to cold and dry in the dead of winter. (60-75F, 16-25C) C-grows in the fall and winter when cool with short days. They like frequent light waterings and lots of mist, mosts come from regions with fog appearing at night. They go dormant in late spring when hot conditions arrive. During the heat of summer often shade is very helpful. Very little water given all summer long. (50-65F, 10-18C) D-opportunistic, will grow anytime from fall to spring when moisture is given. Grow and water them when you have periods of sunshine, and they go dormant in the heat of summer when less water is needed. (60-75F, 16-25C)

Acanthocalycium, /3,6,15-17/ globose, from N. Argentina

Acanthocereus, /14/ low bushes, ribbed stems

Acanthosicyos, /2,6,14/ zigzag stem, spiny fruit

Acrodon, /B,15/ matforming with slender leaves

Adansonia, /4,6,14/ tree type caudiciforms

Adenia, /3,6,8,14/ thick stem caudiform, summer grower

Adenium, /3,6,8,14/ caudiciform, winter deciduous leaves

Adromischus, /1,7,15/ tiny rosette forming plants, slow

Aeonium, /1,7,15/ rosette forming, full sun

Aethephyllum, /1/ spring flowering annuals, sow in cool of spring

Agave, /3,6,8/ century plant, good for summer patio

Aichryson, /1,6,10/ small delicate rosettes

Akersia, /14/ slender cerioid from Peru

Albuca, /15/ most are winter growing bulbs

Allium, most hardy rock garden subjects, summer flowers

Alluadia, /3,6,14/ upright thorny shrubs, Madagascar

Aloe, /2,6,1416/ very large diverse genus

Aloinopsis, /B,1718/ low matforming plants

Anacampseros, /1,6,8,10/ small plants, need full sun

Ancistrocactus, /3,6,8,11,13/ globose, from USA & Mexico

Antegibbaeum, /D,15/ thick fingerlike leaves

Antimima, /C,15/ minute shrubs, sheathing

Apodanthera /4,6,14/, Mexican cucurbits

Aporocactus, /2,6,14/ slender hanging stems, big red flowers

Aptenia, /A/ low freelybranching shrubs, glossy leaves

Arenifera, /D,14/ wonderful low shrub

Arequipa, /15-17/ spiny small plants from Peru & Chile

Argyroderma, /C,15/ thick leaves, flowers when small

Aridaria, /D,15/ shrub with soft fleshy deciduous leaves

Ariocarpus, /3,6,8,13/ slow grower, interesting plants

Armatocereus, /3,6,14/ cereoids from Ecuador & Peru

Arrojadoa, /3,6,14/ slender columnar plants from Brazil

Asclepias, /3,6/

Astridia, /D,15/ thickleaved shrub, full sun

Astroloba, /2,6,14/ rosettes with rigid sharp leaves

Astrophytum, /3,6,8,11,13/ small plants, colorful flowers

Austrocactus, /2,6,17-18/ from southern Argentina

Austrocephalocereus, /3,6,14/ wooly columnar sorts from Brazil

Austrocylindropuntia, /14-16/ with cylindric joints

Avonia /1,6,8,10/, scaley stems, often tuberous

Aztekium, /3,6,10,13,14/ tiny & slow growing, from Mexico

Azureocereus, /14/ cereoides from highlands of Peru

Beaucarnea, /3,6,14/ trees with rosetteforming leaves

Bergeranthus, /B,15/ tufts of short leaves

Bergerocactus, /3,15/ slender upright stems, on coastal hills

Beschorneria /3,6,14/, soft fleshy rosettes, Agave family

Bijlia, /D,15/ low matforming with yellow flowers

Blossfeldia, /2,6,10,14/ miniature plants

Bolivicereus, /3,14/ slender cascading stems for hanging basket

Bombax, /3,6,14/ caudex with big leaves in summer

Borzicactus, /3,6,14/ columnar types from Peru

Boswellia /5,6,14/, frankincense tree, aromat

Bowiea, /2,6,14/ succulent blob with deciduous vine

Braunsia, /D,15/ matforming plants, tufted leaves

Brownanthus, /D,14/ bizarre shrublet, avoid root heat

Browningia, /3,6,14/ cereoid from Peru, spineless trunk

Buiningia, /3,6,14/ short thick stem, cephalium on side

Bulbine, /C,7,14/ succulent leaves, most caudex forming

Bulbinella, /C,14/ winter growing bulb, good for pot culture

Bulbinopsis, /1,7,14/ fallwinter growing bulbs

Bursera, /3,6,14/ caudex forming shrubs, papery bark

Caesalpina /3,6/, small bush, heat and drought lover

Calandrina, /1,6,15-17/ small shrubs, mtns N&S America

Calibanus, /15/ thick dumplingesque caudes

Calochortus, /17-18/ cool moist spring, hot dry summer

Calymmanthium, /3,6,14/ many branched trees, n Peru

Caralluma, /3,6,8,14/ stems with teeth

Carnegiea, /3,6,15/ Saguaro from Sonoran Desert

Carpanthea, /A/ annuals, loves water, beautiful flowers

Carpobrotus, /A,16/ low creeping plants, large fl

Carruanthus, /B,15/ compact plants with low thick leaves

Cephalocereus, /3,6,14/ columnar, from Mexico & Caribbean

Cephalopentandra /5/14/, huge caudex, summer vine

Cephalophyllum, /D,15/ large colorful flowers

Ceraria, /1,7,14/ compact, with tuberous roots

Cereus, /3,6,14-15/ South American cereiods, large nocturnal flowers

Cerochlamys, /D,15/ low thick leaves coated with wax

Ceropegia, /3,6,14/ underground tuber, trailing deciduous vine

Chasmatophyllum, /B,17-18/ low thick knobby leaves, compact

Cheiridopsis, /C,1516/ small, many dots on leaves

Chiastophyllum, /1,6,10,18/ low, branched open rosettes

Chilopsis, /3,6,17/ small desert tree, freely flowering

Chorisia, /3,6,14/ tropical trees, thick thorny trunks

Cissus /3,6,14/, thick roots with vines

Cistanthe, /2,6,1415/ thick stem with Echeverialike rosettes

Cleistocactus, /3,6,14-16/ columnar with pretty spines

Cleretum, /1/ glistening annuals, faster than rabbits

Clistanthocereus, /3,14/ Peruvian shrubby cereoid, tuberculate stems

Coleocephalocereus, /3,14/ short columnar Brazilians, cephalium

Commiphora, /4,6,12,14/ thick truncked bonsai shrub

Conicosia, /1,7,C/ very thirsty sand dwellers

Conophytum, /C,14-16/ dwarf succulent bodies, variable and charming

Consolea, /3,6,14/ tropical prickly pear, odd flowers

Copiapoa, /3,6,14/ globose plants from deserts of Chile

Corpuscularia, /B,2,6,15/ low creepers

Corrallocarpus, /3,6,14/ cucurbit, tuberous caudex

Corryocactus, /15-16/ short columnar spiny stem

Coryphantha, /3,6,8/ colorful flowers, from USA & Mexico

Cotyledon, /1,6,10/ give full sun when mature

Crassula, /1,7,10/ very large diverse genus

Cryptostegia, /5,6,14/ rubbery tropical vines

Cucurbita /3,6/ underground caudex, summer grower

Cumarinia, /3,6,13,15/ very small plant from Mexico

Cyclamen, /1,6/ cool rock garden types, sow in early spring

Cylindrophyllum, /D,15/ offsets, thick cylindric leaves

Cynanchum, /14/ short branching vines

Cyphostemma, /4,6,12,14/ thick caudex, deciduous leaves

Dactylopsis, /C,14/ very fat soft leaves, clay soils

Dasylirion, /3,6/ thick stem rosette with thorny teeth

Delosperma, /A,14-18/ good outdoor plants for the summer

Delphinium /2,6/

Dendrocereus, /3,6,14/ treelike cereiod from Cuba

Dendrosycios /5,14/, huge upright caudex

Denmoza, /3,6,15-16/ short thick columnar types, Argentina

Dicrocaulon, /C,14/ grow like Monilaria

Didymaotus, /D,15/ low thick cleft bodies, whitegrey

Dinteranthus, /D,10,15/ very thick low plants, rocklike

Dioscorea /3,14/, deciduous vine from squat caudex

Dipcade, /C,14/ bulbs, often hairy leaves, scented fl

Diplosoma, /C,14/ disappears from surface when dormant

Discocactus, /3,6,8,14/ cephalium bearing, fragrant fl

Disphyma, /A,15/ mat forming, flowers appear on long stalk

Dorotheanthus, /A/ short lived annuals, bright flowers

Dorstenia, /3,6,14/ low squat thick base, deciduous leaves

Dracaena, /3,6,14/ evergreen palmlike tree

Dracophilus, /D,15/ low thick leaves, full sun

Drimopsis, /C,14/ winter growing bulbs

Drosanthemopsis, /D14/ very soft reddish leaves

Drosanthemum, /A,15-16/ low shrubbies, erect or limp

Dudleya, /1,6,10/ rosette forming, winter growing

Duvalia, /3,6,8,14/ short thick stem, mat forming

Duvaliandra, /14/ thick rocklike stems

Dyckia, /2,6/ rosette forming, with thorny leaves

Eberlanzia, /D,15/ low shrubby, long woody thorns

Ebracteola, /D,15/ dwarf clumping plants, thick roots

Echeveria, /1,6,10,14-16/ colorful leaves and flowers

Echinocactus, /6/ barrel cacti, from Mexico & USA

Echinocereus, /2,6,8/ large diverse genus, super flowers

Echinofossulocactus, /2,6,15-16/ wavy ribs, from Mexico

Echinomastus, /3,6,8,11/ dense spines, Mexico & USA

Echinopsis, /3,6,14-17/ large nocturnal flowers

Energanthe, /D,15/ low shrub, thick leaves, full sun

Epicactus, /3,6,14/ intergeneric hybrids, various flower colors

Epiphyllum, /3,6,14/ tropical epiphytic cacti, grow as orchids

Epithelantha, /3,6,8,11,13,16/ tiny plants

Eranthus, rock garden bulbs, likes cool moist spring

Erdisia, /3,6,14,15/ slender stems, thick underground root

Eremurus, /17-18/ tall spikes, cool wet spring, hot summer

Erepsia, /A,15/ low shrubby types, most purple fl

Eriocereus, /3,6,15/ slender stem, large nocturnal fl

Eriosyce, /5,6,11/ best spines of any cactus, Chile

Erythrina, /4,6,9,16/ low shrubs, broad showy leaves

Escobaria, /3,6,8,15-18/ small spiny plants (Neobesseya)

Escontria, /3,6,14/ cereoid from Mexico

Espostoa, /14,15/ wooly columnar plants, Peru

Esterhuysenia /C,1,16/, smooth shiny leaves, shrublet

Eucomis, /2,6,16/ summer bulb with whorl of leaves

Eulychnia, /14/ low spiny bushes, Chile, full sun

Euphorbia, /3,6,8,11/ interesting diverse genus

Faucaria, /B,15-16/ low thick leaves with teeth

Fenestraria, /D,14/ tiny, clustering, transparent windows

Feroburgia, /3,6,8/Ferocactus x Leuctenbergia

Ferocactus, /3,6,8/ colored spines, likes full sun

Ferraria, /C,14/ winter growing bulbs

Ficus, /3,6,14/ bonsai type tree

Fockea, /3,6,8,14/ caudex with vine, summer grower

Fouquieria, /3,6,8,14-17/ stem succulent, deciduous leaves

Frailea, /2,6,8,14/ very small plants, colorful

Frithia, /B,15/ matforming, windows on leaf tip

Fritillaria, /1718/ rock garden types, moist spring

Furcraea /3,6,14/, rosette forming, fl with bulbils

Gasteria, /2,6,14/ rosette forming, thick tough leaves

Geissorhiza, /1,7,14-15,C/ winter growers, multicolored flowers

Geohintonia, /3,6,10,15/ rocklike, with wavy ribs

Gerrardanthus, /5,6,14/ summer growers, vine from caudex

Gibbaeum, /D,14/ small thickleaved plants, keep dry

Gladiolus, virtually all are winter growers

Glandulicactus, /3,6,8,11,13,16-17/ bluish body, hooked sp

Glottiphyllum, /D,15/ thick compact leaves, keep dry

Gonolobus, /3,6,14/ super caudex

Grahamia, /2,6,15-16/ low shrubby, round leaves, tuberous roots

Graptopetalum, /1,6,10/ smooth leaves, spotted petals

Greenovia, /1,6/ small rosettes that dry into cup in summer

Grusonia, /4,6,9,12,16/ thick ribbed stem, Mexico

Gymnocactus, /3,6,8,13,16/ densely spined, Mexico

Gymnocalycium, /3,6/ nice spines, freely flowering

Gymnocereus, /3,6,14/ treelike, from Peru

Haageocereus, /14/ short spiny columnar stem, full sun

Haemanthus /C,14-15/, large thick winter growing bulbs

Hallianthus, /D,15/ delicate descending stems, tiny leaf

Hamatocactus, /3,6,15-17/ quick growers, colorful flowers

Harrisia, /14/ slender stsems which climb or hang

Hartmanthus /D,2,14/, little shrublet, easy to flower

Hasseanthus, /1,7/ deciduous Dudleya relative

Hatiora, /14/ tropical epiphytes

Haworthia, /7,14-15/ rosettes, sow at 50, 70F

Hechtia, /3,6/ rosetteforming, colorful teethed leaves

Heliabravoae, /3,6,14/ columnar cereoid from Mexico

Hereroa, /B,16-18/ matforming with deep roots

Herreanthus, /D,15/ compact low thick leaves, slow

Hesperaloe, /3,6/ rosettes of long thin frayed leaves

Hildewintera, /3,6,14/ cliff hangers, large flowers

Hoodia, /3,6,8,14/ erect stem, saucershaped flowers

Huernia, /3,6/ short thick stems, variable flowers

Hydnophytum, /3,6,14/ tropical epiphytic caudex

Hylocereus, /3,6,14/ epiphytic climbers, huge nocturnal fl

Ibervillea, /3,6,8,14/ caudex with trailing vine

Imitaria, /D,15/ very small rounded bodies, mat forming

Impatiens, /3,6,14/ summer growers, love heat + humidity

Ipomoea, /3,6,8,12/ underground caudex with deciduous vine

Iris, intricate flowers, sow seeds in late winter

Jacobsenia, /C,15/ erect, shiny beaded leaves

Jatropha, /4,6/ summer grower, leaves fall off in winter

Jensenobotrya, /D,14/ thick rounded leaves

Jordaaniella /D,14/, huge bright flowers, creepers

Juttadinteria, /D,15/ low growing, thick stonelike leaves

Kalanchoe, /1,6,10/ variable genus from Madagascar

Kedrostris, /3,6,14/ summer growing caudiciform, trailing vine

Kensitia, /C,15/ low & shrubby with sabreshaped leaves

Khadia, /B,15/ curved angled leaves

Kniphofia, /3,6,18/ underground bulb, rosette of leaves

Lachenalia, /C,14/ bulb with soft succulent leaves, dry in summer

Lampranthus, /A,14-16/ erect shrubbies, many flowers

Lapeirousia, /1,7,14/ winter bulbs, flat foliage, super flowers

Lapidaria, /D,15-17/ low with very thick curved leaves

Leipoldtia, /D,15/ low shrub with smooth leaves

Lemaireocereus, /3,6,14/ large cereoid from Mexico

Lenophyllum, /1,6,10,15-16/ rosette forming

Lepismium, /3,6,14/ epiphytic from east side Andes

Leuchtenbergia, /3,6,8,13,16/ long tubercles, deep taproot

Lewisia, /1,6,1617/ thick underground roots

Lilium, /2,6/ bulbs with upright stem, trumpet flowers

Lithops, /most B,14-17/ flat plants, colorful top

Lobivia, /2,6,15-17/ small with very colorful flowers

Lomatium, /2,6/ spring growing caudiciform

Lomatophyllum, /3,6,14/ rosette of fleshy leaves

Lophocereus, /14/ Mexican US cereiod

Lophophora, /3,6,8,13,14-16/ low plants, thick taproot

Loxanthocereus, /3,6,14/ slender clustering stem, Peru

Machaerocereus, /3,6,14/ cereoids with slender stem

Machairophyllum, /B,15/ matforming with crowded leaves

Maihueniopsis, /3,6,12,16-17/ mound forming

Malephora, /D,15-17/ thick leaved, names a mess

Mammillaria, /6/ large diverse genus, most freeflowering

Mandragora, /3,6,17/ small desert herbs

Manfreda, /3,6,15-16/ soft spotted leaves, fragrant fl

Manihot, /4,6,14/ attractive palmate leaves

Marah, /1,7,14/

Marlothistella, /B,15/ dense tuft of erect thin leaves

Marsdenia, /3,6,14/ vining deciduous tropicals

Massonia /C,14-15/, winter growing bulbs, flat leaves

Matelea, /4,6,14/ tropical shrubs, very wet in summer

Matucana, /3,6,14-15/ nice flowers, from Peru

Maughaniella, /C,14/ disappears from view when dormant

Mauhuenia, /3,6,12,16-17/ clustering mat forming plants, high Andes

Melocactus, /3,6,14/ strong spines, cephalium when mature

Merendera, /1,6,18/ miniature early spring bulbs

Merremia, /5,6,14/ morning glory relative

Mesembryanthemum, /C,14/ winter growing annual

Mestoklema, /b,15/ low shrub, thick underground taproot

Meyerophytum, /C,14/ very tiny leaves, branches freely

Micranthocereus, /3,6,14/ slender spiny stem, numerous fl

Micropterum, /A/ short lived annuals, shiny leaves

Mila, /3,6,14/ slender stems with bristly spines, Peru

Mirabilis /3,6,14/, fouroclocks, tubular flowers

Mitrophyllum, /C,14/ leaves burst out of papery sheath

Mix, full cactussucculent assortment

Momordica, /3,6,14/ caudiciform cucurbit

Monadenium /3,6,8,14/, with interesting leaves

Monanthes, /1,6,10,15/ densely caespitose tiny plants

Monilaria, /C,15/ brilliant leaves (water storage cells)

Monvillea, /2/ slender columnar plants, nocturnal flowers

Morangaya, /3,6,14/ slender stem, huge red flowers

Morawetzia, /15/ columnar sort from Peru, wooly

Moreae, Mexican spring bulbs, very pretty flowers

Moringa /3,6,17/, fat trunked caudex, summer grower

Mossia, /B,14/

Muiria, /D,14/ thick rounded bodies curved to one side

Muscari, /18/ spring flowering bulbs, very cold hardy

Myrtillocactus, /3,6,14/ treelike cereoides from Mexico

Namaquanthus, /D,14/ low erect shrubby, thick leaves

Namibia, /D,14/ clumpforming with very thick soft leaves

Nananthus, /B,18/ low compact tufted plants

Nelia, /D,14/ short thick leaves, clump forming]

Neobinghamia, /3,6,14/ short columnar type from Peru, very spiny

Neobuxbaumia, /3,6,14/ columnar, spiny plants from Mexico

Neocardenasia, /3,6,14/ large columnar sorts, need full sun

Neoevansia, /3,6,15/ slender stems, thick tubers

Neohenricia, /B,18/ tiny low matforming plant

Neolloydia, /3,6,13/ small, brightly colored flowers

Neoporteria, /3,6,14/ variable low small plants, Chile

Neoraimondia, /3,6,14/ treelike cereiods from Peru

Neowerdermannia, /2,6,15/ flat stem, thick taproot

Nolina, /3,6,8/ succulent trunk with slender leaves

Nopalea, /3,14/ bushy subtropical types, long thin pads

Notocactus, /2,6,15-17/ bright yellow to red flowers

Nycteranthus, /B,15/ robust shrubbies,with large flowers

Nyctocereus, /3/6/14/ thin stemmed, large white nocturnal fl

Obregonia, /3,6,13,14/ flat stem from Mexico

Octopoma, /D,14/ short fat leaves, small shrubby

Odontophorus, /D,14/ dwarf, thick toothy leaves, full sun

Oophytum, /C,14/ clusters of tiny shiny leaves

Ophthalmophyllum, /C,15/ tiny sphaeric glassy leaves

Opophytum, /A/ winter growing annuals, water sacks

Opuntia, /4,6,9,12/ very diverse genus

Orbea, /3,6/ flower with raised annulus

Orbeopsis, /3,6/

Oreocereus, /1516/ showy short columnar, long hairs

Ornithogalum, /14-18/ flowers in a spike, slender leaves

Orostachys, /1,6,10,17/ compact rosettes, rock garden type

Oroya, /2,6,16-17/ small globose stem, Peru

Ortegocactus, /3,6,8,14/

Orthopterum, /B,14/ matforming, thick recurved leaves

Oscularia, /A,15/ low branching shrubby, teethed leaf

Othonna, /C,7,14/ succulent daisy, 4050F (510C)

Ottosonderia /1,7/

Oxalis, /2,6,14/ small fleshy bushy succulents

Pachycereus, /3,6,14/ huge treelike cereoids from Mexico

Pachycormus, /3,6,14/ low tree with thick trunk

Pachyphytum, /1,6,10/ thick powdery leaves, open rosette

Pachypodium, /3,6,8,14/ thick stem, deciduous leaves

Parodia, /1,6,10,14-17/ most small, dense spines

Pedilanthus, /5,14/ rubbery stems, small bushes

Pediocactus, /4,6,9,17-18/ small plants, all cold hardy

Pelargonium, /C,7,14/ sow at 4050F (510C)

Pelecyphora, /3,6,14/ low very slow plants, interesting

Peniocereus, /3,6,11/ thin stem, huge underground tubers

Peperomia, /3,6,14/ small caudex hides in rock cracks

Pereskia, /4,6,14/ tropical bushes

Pereskiopsis, /3,14/ scrambling bushes, with leaves

Pfeiffera, /14/ slender, short stem, epiphytic

Phemeranthus, (“Talinum”) /3,6,16-18/ cute clump of terete leaves

Pherolobus, /C/ sow early winter for spring flowers

Philippicereus, /14/ short columnar sorts from Chile

Phyllobolus, /D,14-15/ ephermal leaves, caudex

Pilosocereus, /3,6,14/ wooly columnar ceroides

Plectranthus, /3,6,14/ succulents mints, tropical

Pleiospilos, /most B, 16-17/ low thick leaves, full sun

Poellnitzia, /2,6,14/

Polaskia, /3,14/ cereiodes from Mexico

Polymita, /D,15/ thick leaved shrubby, densely branched

Portulaca /2,6/, small succulents, bright flowers

Prenia, /A,14/ low creeping shrub

Probiscidea, /3,6,14-17/ devils claw, fruit with 2 long hooks

Psammophora, /D,15/ low thick sticky leaves

Pseudolithos, /3,6,14/ resembling rocks, loves heat

Psilocaulon, /D,14/ sticklike shrublettes

Pterocactus, /16-18/ tuberous roots

Pterodiscus, /3,6,8,14/ underground caudex

Puna, /3,6,16/ deep taproot, tiny rounded stems

Puya, /3,6/ fibrous coarse rosette with teethed margin

Pygmaeocereus, /14/ tiny globose stem, thick taproot, Peru

Pyrenacantha, /4,6,12,14/ tropical caudex

Pyrrhocactus, /2,6,8,15-16/ low thick stem, stout spines

Quaqua, /14/ stiff rigid stems

Rabiea, /B,18/ thick roots and very thick leaves

Raphionacme, /3,6,8,14/ fleshy underground caudex

Rathbunia, /3,6,14/ scramblers from western Mexico

Rauhea, /3,6,15/ summer growing bulbs

Rauheocereus, /3,14/ Peruvian cereoid, raised flat tubercles

Rebutia, /2,6,15-17/ (incl Aylostera & Mediolobivia)

Rhinephyllum, /B,17/ low compact plants, nocturnal fl

Rhipsalidopsis, /3,6,14/ small epiphytes, many flowers

Rhipsalis, /3,14/ epiphytic, needs warmth & humidity

Rhodiola, /1,6,10,16-18/ rock garden plants

Rhodocactus /3,6,14/, subtropical shrubs and scramblers

Rhombophyllum, /B,15-17/ matforming, hatchet

Roseocereus, /14/ columnar from Bolivia, colorful

Rosularia, /18/ mat forming rosettes, rock garden type

Ruschia, overlarge diverse genus

Ruschianthus, /D,15/ inward curving sabreshaped leaves

Sansevieria, /3,6/ stemless plants with tough leathery leaves

Sarcocaulon, /1,7,14/ winter growing, sow in late autumn

Sarcostemma, /3,6,14/ thin leafless vines

Sceletium, /D,15/ low shrubby type with papery leaves

Schizobasis, /1,C,14/ winter growing bulb

Schlechteranthus, /D,14/ dwarf compact bush, loves sun

Schlumbergera, /3,14/ ‘Christmas Cactus’

Schwantesia, /D,15/ low thick leaves, freely flowering

Sclerocactus, /4,6,9,11,16-18/ colorful plants, spiny

Scopelogena, /B,14/ compact spreading shrub, fleshy leaves

Sedum, /1,6,10/ tiny succulents with tight leaves

Selenicereus, /3,6,14/ epiphytic with large nocturnal flowers

Semnanthe, /A,15/ leaf edge with fine teeth

Sempervivum, /1,6,10,17-18/ tight rosettes, alpines

Senecio, succulent composites

Sesamothamnus, /3,6,8,14/ swollen base, thorny branches

Seticereus, /14/ columnar, stems often hang

Sinningia, /2,6,8,10,14/ gesneriad

Sinocrassula, /1,6,10,18/ hairy leafed rosettes

Smicrostigma, /A/ shrubby summer grower

Sophora, /4,6,8,17/ small bushes, leathery leaves

Sphalmanthus, /D,15/ deciduous, die back when dormant

Stapelia, /3,6,8,14/ large flowers come summer/fall

Stayneria, /A,15/ erect shrub, large white fl

Steganaetenia, /3,14/

Stenocereus, /3,6,14/ Mexican cereiods

Stephanocereus, /3,6,14/ columnar sort from Brazil, ringcephalium

Stetsonia, /3,6,14/ very long black sp., Argentina

Stoeberia, /D,14/ spreading shrub, thick leaves

Stomatium, /B,1718/ low, scented nocturnal flowers

Strombocactus, /3,6,10,13,14/ low flat greygreen stem

Sulcorebutia, /3,6,14-15/ small, with colorful flowers

Sutherlandia, /3,6,15/ desert shrub, nice flowers

Tacitus, /1,6,10/ dense rosette of thin leaves

Talinopsis, /3,6/ low upright bush, deciduous

Talinum, /2,6,15-18/ rosette forming

Tamus, /3,15/ spring growing tuber with vine

Tanquana, /D,15/ fat rounded leaves, give full sun

Taveresia, /3,6/ densely bristled stem, long tubed flowers

Tecoma /3,6,16/ desert shrub, nice yellow flowers all summer

Tephrocactus, /4,9,12/ segmented stems, variable spination

Testudinaria, above ground fleshy caudex, trailing vine

Thelocactus, /3,6,8,13/ small, with brilliant flowers

Thompsoniella, /2,6,15/ thick roots, compact rosette

Thrixanthocereus, /14/ columnar, beautiful spination

Titanopsis, /B,17-18/ low thick warted leaves

Toumeya, /4,6,9,17/ tiny thin erect stem, papery sp

Tradescantia /2,6/, small rosette florming scramblers

Trichocaulon, /3,6,8,11,14/ thick soft stems

Trichocereus, /3,6,14-17/ columnar, large flowers

Trichodiadema, /B,15/ shrubby with thick roots

Tritonia, small pot type winter growers, dry in summer

Trycyclandra, /5,6,14/ fat caudex, summer vine

Tumamoca, /4,14/ summer grower, dies back in winter

Turbinicarpus, /3,6,8,13,14-15/ tiny plants from Mexico

Tylecodon, /1,7,10,C/ low thickstemmed caudiciforms

Uebelmannia, /3,6,14/ sharp ribs, very colorful, Brazil

Umbilicus, /1,6,10/ small open rosettes

Uncarina, /4,6,14/ small trees with swollen base, Madagascar

Vanheerdea, /D,17/ clumps slowly with very thick leaves

Vanzijlia, /C,15/ low winter growing shrubbies

Vatricania, /3,6,14/ columnar, cephalium bearing, Bolivia

Veltheimia, /1,7,14/ winter bulb, fat and squat

Villadia, /1516/ very tiny leafed rosette

Vlokia /1,6,17/, mat forming, on mountain rocks

Weberbauerocereus, /3,6,14-15/ densely spined columns, Peru

Weingartia, /3,6,15-17/ small stem, colorful fl

Welwitschia, /C,14/ likes deep sandy soil, frequent fog at night

Whitesloaniaa, /5,8,14/ fat cylindrical stem

Wooleya, /D,14/ very rare upright type

Xanthorrhoea, /3,6,14/ long slender leaves

Xeronema /3,14/, ridig very thick Irislike foliage

Xerosicyos, /3,6,14/ cucurbit, trailing vine

Yucca, /2,6/ makes very nice garden plant, white flowers

Zehneria, /5,6,14/ tropical cucurbit, tuberous roots

Pediocactus, Sclerocactus and Toumeya

With winter approaching in northern latitudes, the best time for sowing Pediocactus, Sclerocacus and Toumeya is here. In places with hard frosts in mid winter, you can sow the pots outdoors to give exposure to multiple freezing/thawing occasions. In habitat there will be more than 100 nights with subfreezing temps, while during the day the sun will warm the air to thaw the ground surface.

Then in most of these habitats there will be some rain or snow in the spring. Then in spring the ground will be cool and very damp. Many seeds will germinate in early spring under cool damp conditions, after the needed freezing/thawing cycles of mid winter.

In the summer often it is dry, occasionally there will be thunderstorms. The ground will experience very high surface temperatures, be mostly dry, but occasionally very wet when thunderstorms come frequently in short bursts.

If you live where sharp frosts occur in the winter, try to sow the seeds by the end of January if possible, so that enough freezing/thawing cycles can occur.

Summary of sowing method used here in New Mexico:

sow in mid winter, keep mostly dry, occasionally wet, freeze at night and thaw in day

damp in early spring when cool, occasional light frost, warmer in day. Keep evenly moist and germination will start.

very hot in mid summer, mostly dry with occasional soaks. More germination will occur after thunderstorms soak the pots. Avoid prolonged soaking now.

mostly dry in fall, occasional soak only. Allow to dry out for winter dormancy. Sometimes plants will bud in the fall, do not keep the plant any warmer for the winter, just let the buds sit until spring when it would naturally flower anyway.

We use only the naturally occuring temps, there is no protection from cold at all. The pots are sown outdoors in plastic pots. The pots are housed in wooden boxes which are covered with nylon window screen. Suspended above the boxes is a layer of shade cloth. These two layers will break up heavy rain drops and give protection from hail.

If long heavy rains are possible where you live, it would be best to put the pots under cover after some germination has taken place. The outdoor treatments are designed to accomplish germination. For example the plants do not like long soaking rains in late summer and into the fall, so you might have to move the pots to an unheated greenhouse or coldframe once they have sprouted. However a long soaking rain is very beneficial in promoting germination.

The easiest to sprout are: Pediocactus simpsonii, Sclerocactus spinosior, pubispinus, and brevispinus. They will often sprout in early spring when it still freezes a bit at night. They find early spring a very active growth time when it is cool and moist.